Prevpac nearly killed me

[Kathy]

I don't know what other's experiences are with prevpac, but I took it for the prescribed two weeks and nearly died. I had my reservations about taking this massive barrage of pills, but submitted to it per Dr.s orders. I started feeling very tired, tachycardic and weak over the two weeks. As I didn't feel any differently two days after I had finished the pills, I went to my doctor to have blood work. My hematocrit had dropped from 31 to 18 in the two weeks. That is like losing nearly half of your red blood cells! Apparently, I had a hemolytic reaction to these pills, most likely to the Biaxin.
I had a bad feeling about taking this prevpac and wish I had just done a wholistic treatment. I would strongly admonish anybody who is faced with taking prevpac to reconsider and try natural cures. Plus, from all I understand, H.pylori can and most likely will return despite the horrific treatment with prevpac because the doctors don't address the underlying reasons why some people have this bug and live in harmony with it, while others sustain harm from it. Typical doctors; easy to dish out the drugs. Also, h.pylori apparently can live on toothbrushes. I wish I knew that after having gone through the treatment. NO doctors tell you this. You will just reinfect yourself if you don't have your whole family treated AND basically sanitize your home where it can breed.

[alex]

i have taken prevpac twice u do get some side affects but nothing like you described i got minor stomach pains but was still able to go to the gym everyday and felt normal i think everyone will react to medication different

[mother of 3]

Kathy wrote:

I don't know what other's experiences are with prevpac, but I took it for the prescribed two weeks and nearly died. I had my reservations about taking this massive barrage of pills, but submitted to it per Dr.s orders. I started feeling very tired, tachycardic and weak over the two weeks. As I didn't feel any differently two days after I had finished the pills, I went to my doctor to have blood work. My hematocrit had dropped from 31 to 18 in the two weeks. That is like losing nearly half of your red blood cells! Apparently, I had a hemolytic reaction to these pills, most likely to the Biaxin.
I had a bad feeling about taking this prevpac and wish I had just done a wholistic treatment. I would strongly admonish anybody who is faced with taking prevpac to reconsider and try natural cures. Plus, from all I understand, H.pylori can and most likely will return despite the horrific treatment with prevpac because the doctors don't address the underlying reasons why some people have this bug and live in harmony with it, while others sustain harm from it. Typical doctors; easy to dish out the drugs. Also, h.pylori apparently can live on toothbrushes. I wish I knew that after having gone through the treatment. NO doctors tell you this. You will just reinfect yourself if you don't have your whole family treated AND basically sanitize your home where it can breed.

i so agree with you. i have been on prevpac for 12 days now. i thought it was depression makin me more sleepy, which h.pylori also does to a person. ive been experiencing more bloating and gas pains and pains in my lower back. oh and not to mention the chest pains that run down my arm. so like it makes me paranoid. my fear is re-infection. i think my kids got it too. when you are a parent, your children have the tendencies to always want to eat and drink out of your stuff. so now im off to buy a big jar of listerine and im going to soak my toothbrush in fresh listerine daily to see if that help with re-infection. good luck feel better to all the sufferers

[tlynn]

i just started the pills on today 3/28/09 they never siad any thing about the kids getting it. did you all take it on a empty stomach in the mornings? thanks any information on this will help me. thanks,

[Sharon]

I havebeen diagnosed with H.Pylori and prescribed the double antiviotics (two different kinds) and Pepto Bismol for two weeks. Even though I explained how any type of medicine does me, they say I have to do it. Well, after reading some of these forums, I don't plan to take the medication, didn't even get it filled. I am searching for a natural source and gathering my information on why I can't go with the theory that zapping them with antibiotics is the cure all when in fact in appears to cause even worse problems for some.

[Oleg]

DO NOT TAKE PREVPAC. It is for your own good. I took one course of this garbage and right now looking for a good lawyer. There were no side effects while taking it but after two weeks passed I started having pain in my lower back and pelvis area. It is being more than a year, I took many different probiotics, went through many tests to determine the cause of the pain(with no success). My vitamin B is decreasing which means the digestion system does not work properly. I have never had any problems before taking prevpac. Kathy, do you still experience problems? This can be class auction suit against this pharmacist. I am thinking of including my "doctor" into it.

[consuelo]

lost my appetite, don't know if because h pylori, or prevpak medications

[Skeet7373]

I just finished the 14 days of the Prevpac. Wow, I have had almost all the side effects mentioned. The worst being first the headaches, then the awful taste in my mouth, then my throat feeling very closed off, then my tongue feeling swollen, my back hurts, but the worst, THE YEAST INFECTION. The corners of my mouth are so cracked they are painful. Called the doc for some antifungal meds, don't know when that will work. My mouth is very uncomfortable. Surly there are other drugs to combat this H-pylori other than Prevpac. This was unbearable to do. Beware, Ask Questions, be informed.